Motobecane Century Elite

Price Paid:  $1195.00 at bikesdirect

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
dirt 1s

Bike Setup:
Stock with Neuvation wheels and saddle, Ouzo fork, Conti Gatorskin tires and Crank bros Quatro pedals.

Summary:
Full Ultegra bike(cept cane creek brakes) WCS stem and bars for $1200. Hard to beat. I figured Ide just be gettin a free frame but I am very impressed with the frame. Extremely stiff compared to my flimsy Fuji Newest. Ebayed the wheelset and fork for enough $ for Neuvation wheels and saddle and Renolds Ouzo fork and some gatorskin tires. My 56mm bike weighs in at
17.6 lbs w/o pedals.

Strengths:
VALUE VALUE VALUE (lifetime warranty)

Weaknesses:
You better be your own wrench since support from Bikesdirect is mostly non existent. After 2 emails, I never got a response. The price you pay!

Similar Products Used:
Fuji Newest
Shwinn

Price Paid:  $1195.00 at BikesDirect

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Shelby Farms

Summary:
Well, I’m 58 years old and I have been riding bikes as long as I can remember. My first big bike was a Schwinn Corvette; it weighed more than I did at the time.

I have been riding a Giant mountain bike for the last 8 years and have decided to get back to road bikes and some long range cruising, and some racing.
After shopping at all the LBS stores, I was a little disappointed in what I could get for my money. I had set an original budget of $1,500 for this project and was shown bikes from 700 to 1,999. In each case the bike was from a name brand manufacturer, but bikes in this price range lacked the higher quality components. I would like to have had an “American” bike but nothing in this price range was done here, so brand is a moot point. Had I gone with the LBS I would have purchased the Specialized Allez Elite Triple for 1100 + pedals and tax; bringing the total to near 1300, and I still need new shoes.

After some additional reading I decided on Bikesdirect and the Motobecane Century Elite; and I have placed the order today. I’m not sure if I’m going to try and assemble this myself or not. I have ordered the DVD from Bike Island and will take a look at it once it arrives, and then see what the parts really look like, but I bet the LBS gets the nod there. I am a good wrench with a complete set of tools, but never done a bike from the box.

I was very impressed with the ability to get a full Ultegra bike in the 16-17 pound range for 1,195 including pedals. I may pay to have it assembled, and I will still then be in the 1,300 range, but I believe that the quality of the components is much higher and will produce a much better riding bike… we’ll see. I’ll post pics and additional info as it is available.

3/19/07 4:00pm CST
I have already received order confirmation from Bikesdirect.

3/20 11:00am CCST
Received confirmation from Bikes Direct and the Tracking Number for the box.
I checked with UPS and the box left Houston and is scheduled for delivery to me on the
on 3/22.

Strengths:
Quality components for the price.

Weaknesses:
Too early to tell, but I will post.

Similar Products Used:
Long list.